Enhanced Fitting Algorithm Cuts Compile Time by 1.5x to 3x
San Jose, Calif., October 13, 2000--Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR), a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs), today released its latest version of the Quartus™ development software. Altera's Quartus software, version 2000.09, features the new PowerFit™ fitter technology that delivers higher design performance (fMAX), reduced compile times, and improved fitting. The PowerFit fitter uses advanced fitting algorithms to provide a median fMAX performance improvement of more than 30 percent and one-and-a-half to three times faster compile times for designs targeting large APEX™ 20KE devices. The PowerFit fitter also provides improved fitting capability for designs targeting these high-density devices.
"PLD designers require push-button performance and more productive design tools," said David Greenfield, Altera director of development tools marketing. "This latest release meets the challenge of designing for multi-million gate devices, by significantly elevating design performance and shortening design cycles for our customers."
"Our transition to the APEX 20KE family gave us a substantial boost in fMAX performance," said Steve Marquis, senior staff engineer at Siemens Medical Systems. "We saw performance increase by better than 20 percent when we switched to the APEX 20KE devices. This latest release of Quartus software, version 2000.09, delivered another 20 to 40 percent boost in fMAX on my design. An unexpected bonus though, was compile times which actually dropped by a factor of 2.5, allowing for faster design iterations."
Additional Quartus 2000.09 Enhancements
Quartus software, version 2000.09, includes timing analysis enhancements and improved assignment capability. The enhanced timing analyzer enables designers to more accurately analyze circuits including complex clock structures and enables designers to better specify multi-cycle path relationships; this development clearly enhances the design verification process. Quartus software, version 2000.09, also facilitates the use of encrypted IP MegaCore® functions through 3rd party synthesis tools and provides an enhanced and simplified installation flow for UNIX-based platforms.
About Quartus Development Software
Altera's Quartus software was developed to support system-level designs and features good as native links to industry leading, third party tools from Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Synplicity, and other leading EDA vendors. It also features the SignalTap™ embedded logic analysis tool for in-system hardware debugging. The Altera fourth-generation Quartus software meets the challenges of designing for multi-million gate devices and enables system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design methodology. It supports major operating systems, including Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98, Sun Solaris, and HP-UX.
Pricing & Availability
The Quartus version 2000.09 design software is available today, and is a part of the Altera development tools subscription package. Altera's software subscription program simplifies the process of obtaining Altera development tools by consolidating all software products and maintenance charges into one annual subscription payment. The annual subscription for the Altera development tools is $2,000 for a node-locked PC license, which includes full-featured Quartus and MAX+PLUS® II development software, OEM synthesis tools from Synopsys and Exemplar, OEM simulation tools from ModelTechnology, and 12 months of software upgrades. New or existing customers may obtain a software subscription at the Programmable eStore on the Altera web site, http://www.altera.com, or from Altera distributors worldwide.
About Altera
Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company®, was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. By using high performance devices, software development tools, and sophisticated intellectual property cores, system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions can be created with embedded processors, memory, and other complex logic together on a single PLD. Altera common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera is available on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.
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